“Air springs reduce a great amount of vibration, elongating lifetime on the overall vehicle and the road system. The drawbacks to air springs leave room for sping systems, like the camelback, to take place as the overall superior choice, in terms of general scope.”
Air springs reduce the vibration going out. This less vibration going out means less damage to bridges, buildings, and roads. To make a serious impact, every vehicle would need to be air suspended.
The vibration from the road is less vibration on your vehicle. This means a healthier frame, bolts, motor mounts, and pretty much every part of the vehicle subject to bounce on the road. It’s not always the big potholes that do the damage, it’s the 1,000 roads that do the trick. Ever been to Oklahoma city? LA has some nasty roads too.
Air suspension has come a long way. The ability to bounce on air allows for a ton of absorption of the road before it transfers to your butt. Spring
The air rides are pretty smooth on long stretches or in the city. Driving through swaying hills and country road can cause you to lean a bit, and they do lean. What you can do here is to adjust your air valve, which comes in handy for when it’s windy. Just hold down the button for a couple of seconds and lower your truck.
Unladen trucks usually sit higher because there’s less weight pushing the suspension down, but this is bad for wind resistance. A lower ride height means better aerodynamics because it reduces the wind resistance.
Coils like camelback are reliable. It may not feel great on the back at all times, but the fact that these lean and sway less than air is a relief for our brains. I don’t want to drive a loop and be leaning to the right.
The trick with spring suspension is your seat. Get a good seat and this will take a lot of the bumps off your back. It won’t fix what is shocking your vehicle, but if you like the suspension, get a good chair.
Dumping with an air suspension can get interesting if you don’t dump the air. The material can shoot out and cause you to sway a bit, something you gotta be careful with when your vehicle sits higher when your load gets lighter. Then when you’re done, you can raise the suspension once more. But sway is a serious factor here.
Be sure to dump the air before the load, you really don’t want to top out your suspension. This wears down on the air system. It’s really not meant for that kind of outward shock.
Not to mention your load should be evenly spread, air rides tend to lean to the heaviest side, far more than leaf springs.
On a leaf spring you don’t have that problem. Leaf springs are more rigid but when dumping it’s far more reliable. A camelback spring system is really the top of line in this epic battle between air vs spring.
A camelback style suspension offers more articulation during a dump. This means the body won’t be wheels in the air. The weight transfer is superior. If it’s even a little offroad, you’re going to get to where you’re dumping with less of a problem, since the weight will work with you.
Air just doesn’t seem to have the traction we would feel comfortable driving. Too many times you’ll see a driver on air getting pulled out of the mud by a forklift or another truck. Air suspension can’t keep ground pressure in soft or uneven terrain.
If you don’t have your air pressure ride height correct, you’ll be spinning out. Overall you’re going to be playing with the valve on your suspension.
Although many people who listed lack of repairs as a benefit, this suspension system is actually more expensive and difficult to fix. Newer vehicles with air suspension will require less maintenance, simply for the fact of being a newer vehicle. When something does go wrong with an air suspension, it will be pretty expensive to deal with. What are the benefits of air suspension on trucks (driverknowledgetests.com).
Springs generally don’t require as much maintenance, some people ride for decades on the same bushings without problem. This depends on where you live. If you live in one of the “salt belt” states, expect some trauma on the suspension after while. Buying any vehicle from these states should be examined for serious rust on the frame.
The largest drawback to spring systems is the vibration. Also note that some air suspension systems can beat out springs, it depends on the vehicle, although this vehicle is harder to find.
In the end, spring is better for actual work, generally. Air ride’s biggest benefit is driving.
When buying a bed for your dump truck, you should consider several factors. Although aluminum is weaker, it offers a significant weight reduction while being versatile in hauling capacity when paired with an appropriate liner.
You may want to know which is better, steel or aluminum. If you’ve looked online for this solution, you’ll see plenty of opinions, and boy are they adamant. But hey, dump truckers are passionate and they love what they love. So let’s look at which is better, steel or aluminum dump truck beds.
An aluminum bed can weight about 10-15% less than a steel trailer of the same size. This means you can haul more. Of course you should use a good liner, which we’ll get into soon. Aluminum is more likely to ding, but with how easy it is to work on/repair aluminum, it becomes less of a problem.
As one user reported for Aluminum “experienced drivers are necessary. The walls are not as strong as steel, so people operating a skid steer and loading over a wall can be dangerous. The gates are not as strong as steel, so backing up into a pile of material you’re dumping can come at a price.”
Steel is heavier, harder to work on, and generally requires more expensive maintenance in the long-run. Some of these reasons have to deal with the nature of steel. If you own a vehicle in a rust belt or coastal state, you’ll know exactly what we mean.
Steel can corrode, so your trailers will need to be maintained fairly regularly, depending on where you live. Many steel beds are galvanized, at least on the floor, so stripping this layer is sometimes required. This raises the cost.
If you need to cut some part of the trailer, aluminum will be easier. This may seem small, but all of these factors add up.
Aluminum is more expensive in the short-term. Many vehicles with aluminum don’t need to be repaired very often. If something does go wrong, you can easily pop out rivets to replace panels.
Getting liners to protect your bed is important, especially with aluminum. It also depends on what you’re hauling. If you’re hauling asphalt, you’re going to want to get something graded for it. Check this site out for reference. Hot Asphalt Liner – Global Plastics | Geared towards Excellence (dumptruckliners.com)
Liners will make your aluminum dump truck bed haul just about anything. A good aluminum can even have some interesting effects on the ride quality. Weird right?
This one is interesting. Riding with an aluminum dump truck is a smoother ride than with a steel body. This could be do to the fact that steel is much heavier, and where that heaviness is distributed, which may cause more bounce.
Steel is cheaper (initial purchase), heavier, and can take a better beating. Aluminum is cheaper in the long-run, lightens your load, which means you can haul more. A good liner will make an aluminum bed a force to be reckoned with.
There are some serious benefits to owning your own dump truck business. Whether you want a fleet, or just want to do your own thing, you got to make money. Being an entrepreneur means you have to go out and find work.
Get a job! Finding work can be difficult for newbies, which is why many owner/operators with experience make the switch easier than it is for the beginners. Don’t stress, here are 5 tricks to get going on work.
Call some outfits that do landscaping supply, and builders too. They might get backed up and need a freelance driver. If they don’t need the work, ask them their busiest time of year and leave a number with them. They may become regulars.
If you drive by a site, look for the sign for who is building, call that number! Who knows, you may get a subcontract for someone doing a big job for the government.
Road contractors and gravel pits. You’re going to have to drive up to the scales and be nice. On one forum, a veteran recommends pulling up to the scales with a box of donuts and asking if they need anything hauled. Again, just cause there is nothing now, doesn’t mean there won’t be in a month.
When I was a tower hand I built 1,400 ft tall broadcast towers. We always needed gravel. One of our guys drove our 14 ton forklift way in the mud. It was a muddy muddy week in Kansas. A dump truck driver who lived near by drove past and yelled out the window “want some gravel? I can bring back a load in 3 hours!” We paid for the gravel, the haul, and we spread out the gravel.
If the work ain’t coming, you got to do something. There are companies out there that claim to give 80% of the haul rate. Jobsintrucks.com is one place to look. Check them out here:
Dump truck driving for the Department of Transportation provides some good work for dump truck drivers. This is done through subcontracting. It’s a lot of big companies that are doing this, so if you’re looking to find a big company doing this, I recommend this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3szmSH1Ncvk&t=266s
What David is telling us here is that he searches the USDOT number found on a truck, checking the company size, and calling them. If they are willing to outsource to you, boom, you just found work.
Work extra hard to keep in good relations with the people you meet. There is always more work, but these circles can be small, so don’t get yourself blackballed by doing a poor job. You guys know this already, but to those newbies, make this your goal. Customer satisfaction is king in any business.
Let’s talk TRUX. This app connect truckers, contractors, and material providers to build an efficient system for completing dump truck jobs.
In the land of business, brokers are the storks, creating new work and placing it in your lap. They can be expensive, and if you’re new you may not be inundated, but it’s worth experimenting with at the least. Here are just a few options for brokers to reach out to:
Most dump truck jobs are hourly. Most. Being able to create your own jobs is another task in its own. You might be paid by the tonnage, if you’re working for most companies, with contract, you are what’s known as “key to key” or maybe even “gate to gate”. This means you get paid when you leave the jobsite, and payment stops when you get back. But no matter what, you’re going to have to make sure you find a job that pays travel time, something difficult in the industry.
A few downsides to owning/operating your own truck. These are the obvious ones, but you should still consider it. No job is without some cons, but nothing has more risk than being your own boss.
If your truck breaks down, you pay. You can’t ask anyone of your customers to pay it for you. You can use your insurance, but we really recommend you have some auto experience. If you own a pickup, you’ll save a ton of cash by going and getting that $80 part and doing it yourself. If you have a new truck, this will be less of a worry.
This may not be a big deal to a lot of us, but it’s worth mentioning. If you have medical bills, it is handy to be getting employee benefits. For you, your wife, or your kids, it is something to consider.
There are many ways to get work as an owner/operator of a dump truck. Many of these tactics require a hustle, so you’re going to have to get in the circle. There are apps to help you find work, as well as websites that can give you full-time work as an owner and operator.
Single axle dump trucks are the cure. At least the future for those looking to maximize certain hauls. Single axles bring a versatile range of power and fuel efficiency. For many reasons, drivers may want to add a single axle to their fleet, or for new drivers looking to break into the game.
With a smaller wheelbase than larger dump trucks, single axle dump trucks can out maneuver and steer with greater ease than larger vehicles. This makes backup up, changing lanes, dropping a load, and getting up to speed on a highway easier.
The maneuverability is going to come in handy when you deliver to anywhere residential. For some dump truck owners, single axles allow business owners to diversify their services. A landscaping company can sell their own dirt or gravel, without being reliant on another company to make the delivery on time.
Anybody that drives dumps knows fuel takes a big cut out of profits, especially if you’re working on your own. Rather than tossing $20s out the window every hour, take a look at the little guys. A single axle means you can take loads using less fuel. Of course you can’t haul as much as regular dump trucks, but you’ll find many times where the dump can has a sad amount of emptiness in it.
If you sell material in smaller quantities, you’ll find a single axle to your advantage. There’s no point in a tandem if you don’t fill it.
FET taxes suck. That’s an extra 12% you pay on top the sales price. Single axles under 33,000 GVWR do not have to suffer that 12%. That will easily save you thousands of dollars.
You also won’t need a CDL for any truck with a GVWR below 26,000. If you are within the right GVWR, you can also tow a trailer less than 10,000 GVWR.
Greenhorns looking to get in the game will benefit from a vehicle that is cheaper and “less” regulated. Single axle offers amazing benefits that
Some obvious yet important things to consider: When you’re buying, check for any cracked springs and a solid body. You’re going to be putting some serious weight on the little dump, so check it’s max weight. It can be easy to overload a single axle, but if you’re smart, you’ll be just fine.
Here’s what one expert had to say:
“For “home” use, I would stick to a single axle, 5/2spd, 10′ box, probably gas, dump truck. Not a stake, flatbed, or grain dump for hauling dirt and gravel. Going to a tandem exponentially increases maintenance, repair, insurance, and licensing costs and may require a fuel use tag. I had an excavating business for 10 years and used an F700 gas truck as my 3rd unit and it did ok. I had it registered just below CDL weight. It wasn’t a heavy hauler, but it was a peach to drive after running the triaxle and the big LN8000 single.”
Single axles serve their best purpose with smaller more frequent load. If it stays on location, delivering single batches to customers, or just hauling around the property, you’ll be glad you bought something as maneuverable as a single axle. Big loads for long distance is another thing. Tandems do best for these kinds of hauling for the fact there is more traction, support, and mechanics to allow a great deal more payload.
Buy and sell used or new dump trucks online with ease. Dump Truck Only offers the best deals in the country. Buy dump trucks today as we guide you through buying the truck you want, with options of leasing that work to your budget. If you want to buy a dump truck online, you have found the best authoritative resource.
1993 STURDYWELD 4 AXLE PUP TRAILER-ALMUMINUM $19,000 | Dump Trucks Only
It’s easy, once you do your research, you can search on our site, find the dump truck and get in contact with the dealer. They’ll set up shipment, payment, and you’ll get it right at your front door.
Also called a Fair Market Value Lease, a True Lease allows you to write off each lease payment as an operating expense. When the lease term is up, you will have the option to renew the lease, upgrade the equipment, purchase it at Fair Market Value, or send it back.
A Capital Lease is designed for you to own the equipment at the end of the payment period. We have created an easy way for you to purchase the equipment at the end of the term for just $1 (or $101, depending on your state
tax laws).
We have the ability to structure an agreement as a Rental. Choose the term that suits your needs, commence
the agreement and simply rent the equipment or software. Rental Agreements are a great way to overcome
budget constraints.
EFA is a simple loan to your business that allows you to buy the equipment you need. Make your payments and at the end of your term, you are done. You chose what to finance including equipment, shipping, taxes, warranties etc.
Want some help buying your truck? Talk to one of our dump truck reps here
It’s easy! Browse our site, search features or by make and model and find your truck. Once you find the dump truck you want, you can fill out the contact form or call the dealer. From there we’ll set up a place and time to drop off your dump truck that works for you.
Here’s a more thorough explanation on how to get your dumptruck!
Buy heavy machinery online at Onlyinc.com
Onlyinc.com has a great selection of machinery you can filter through. The machines are inspected and can be delivered right to where you need. Factoring in Onlyinc’s vetting process, you’re going to find a solid machine you can rely on.
Buying used is going to save you money when compared to buying brand new. That’s where Onlyinc comes in handy, giving you a good deal on a machine Onlyinc has inspected.
If you want to sell your heavy machinery, you’re going to find this the absolute option. There are no fees until you sell your machine. Unlike other sites which charge you per listing or per month, Onlyinc will keep your ad up until it sells. We take care of the advertising and marketing and we will bring you serious buyers, filtering out lookyloos.
Check out all the dump trucks, trailers, lifts, and more here: Only, Inc. – Your Premier Used Truck and Heavy Equipment Sales Team (onlyinc.com)
As anyone knows, bidding can get you a great deal or max you out. That being said, Ebay will have a lot of options, you’ll just have to do more research to find what you need. Buying heavy machinery on Ebay requires you to do some research, so be sure to ask questions to the seller about the machinery.
If you sell on Ebay, you’re going to pay a hefty fee of about 12.5%. If you sell a dozer for about $60,000, you’re going to owe Ebay $7,500. If it’s not selling, you’re going to have to take the time to learn how to advertise your machinery on Ebay. Here’s a thread on selling on Ebay we found interesting confused about heavy equipment fees – The eBay Community
Here is an option some people use. There are a variety of machines to go through, especially earthing equipment. There are a lot of options in this site.
Selling on this site costs money is one downside, and if you have other rigs, you might have to sell on another site. Overall it’s a pretty good site with some great options.
A dump truck can cost anywhere to $5,000 to dump trucks in the 6 figures. Starting costs are determined by factors such as year, mileage, damage, axles, bed metal, and more. Here are a few examples.
This dump truck has steel fold down sides, brand new tires all around, it’s a 14′ flat bed. With only 84,000 this little dump truck is going to go fast. But to know what dump truck you need, you’ll have to know what kind of work you’ll be doing.
Not everyone needs a huge dump truck, may people will do with a smaller single axle for hauling mulch, dirt, and various debris. This is great for entrepeneurs who work outside doing large scale yard work.
Buying a dump truck can be an amazing investment. If you want to make money, there are plenty of opportunities to bring in a steady stream of income.
This includes offering your services to landscaping companies, working with the Uber of dump trucks to find work, online job boards, subcontracting to the DTO and more. Check out our article and see step by step how to do it: Here’s How To Make Money With Your Dump Truck – Only, Inc. (onlyinc.com)
You apply for financing in 3 easy steps. Just fill out our Quick Apply application. Next our lenders will review what you’re looking for, assess your needs, and bring you an offer in 24 hours. That’s pretty simple!
Credit scores are not the only factor that lenders take into account. Generally people with 600 or above are more likely to get a loan or refinancing. Either way, it can’t hurt to apply, it’s only 3 steps. If you don’t get approved, maybe purchase a smaller dump truck and get a side hustle going and improve your credit score.
Heavy equipment operators make good money. To get there you’re gonna need some training. So set aside a piece of your next paycheck and get in this business. Here’s how you’re going to do that.
Many trade schools or apprenticeships are going to ask for a a high school diploma or a GED. These aren’t hard to get but taking the time away from work can be annoying. The test can take up to 7 hours, so brush up on your basic knowledge and do it. Here’s a link to get started: How to Get a GED Fast (study.com)
That being said, if you go through some other training options, you may not have to take a GED.
Training to be a heavy equipment operator requires training. This can be done through state or union apprenticeships. Another option is to go through a college or technical school. There are also more courses available online.
Get trained for heavy equipment operating online. Check out this website and learn exactly what you need for the machinery you’ll be operating. If you want to operate a mobile crane, check out this guide here:NCCCO Study Materials: Mobile Crane Operator Certification Study Guide PDF (totalequipmenttraining.com)
Here’s what Total Equipment Training says about getting an online certificate for crane operating:
“The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) has been nationally recognized to certify crane operators. Many states require certification and only acknowledge licenses obtained through NCCCO by a provider, such as Total Equipment Training. We are pleased to provide an affordable and effective training option and downloadable study materials to help you successfully prepare for the NCCCO Mobile Crane Operator Written Exams. These materials come in a digital PDF format.”
To get started, or to see what the process is for loans on used equipment, check out our used heavy equipment category. From there you’ll be able to see whatever you might need on the job. It will give you an idea on the market. You can use a quick apply for a loan and the brokers will tell you the exact details for the machine you’ll need.
Here’s our selection of heavy equipment: Heavy Equipment – Only, Inc. (onlyinc.com)
Check out our quick loan application: Only, Inc. – Your Premier Used Truck and Heavy Equipment Sales Team (onlyinc.com)
Our financing is available through our two favorite brokers, Nation Capitol Funding, and True Core Capital.
Being a heavy equipment operator takes a GED, technical training or an apprenticeship, and skill. There are various ways to learn the tricks of the trade and applying yourself to this career will be worth it once you’re in. The benefits of going through a union also makes this more appealing for certain candidates.
If you’re in the transportation world, you’ve seen inflation hit the market. It’s not just gas, it’s the price of our vehicles and prices of services that are so noticeable in our world. Take a look at this graph :
All of this can be scary, especially when Goldman Sachs lowered its forecast for annual U.S. economic growth, citing “higher oil prices,” and said there is a risk the United States will enter a recession in the next year.
That being said, we all know goods still have to get to the table. Now it’s a question of what is getting the vehicle prices so high?
American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index was unchanged in February after increasing 0.4% in January. In February, the index equaled 115.3 (2015=100) the same as January. ATA Truck Tonnage Index Unchanged in February | American Trucking Associations
Since the freight is about the same, it shows we are being choked by short supply. It’s impossible to move all of the freight truckers are being asked to move since there are not enough drivers and trucks.
According to DC Velocity who quoted ACT Research, “Low-cost manufacturing countries with low vaccination rates have had trouble in previous Covid waves. The Delta variant knocked Indian steel production off-line and disrupted automotive sub-assemblers in Southeast Asia. To combat Omicron, the Chinese government has instigated shelter-in-place quarantines, continuing their strict lockdown policy. As China remains the world’s workshop, Chinese parts suppliers and ports going off-line is a real short-term risk.”
And now with a new variant spreading through China, we might see even more of an impact on manufacturing. To put it into perspective, China manufactures about 69% of manufacturing in asia. COVID-19 Pandemic’s Effect on Manufacturing Industry | Pumps & Systems (pumpsandsystems.com)
1,000s of trucks are waiting unfinished in lots, waiting for chip enabled components. 10’s of 1,000s of trucks are waiting for repairs that require similar components. The chip shortage has had a huge impact on the manufacturing industry. To combat this, Intel is investing $20 billion to develop a new computer chip manufacturing plant in Ohio.
The affects of the Russian invasion is likely to be huge, according to CEO of Interact Analysis Adrian Lloyd. Russia produces the most natural gas globally, so manufacturers outside of the U.S. that supply the United States will be affected greatly.
The biggest and most obvious is the covid factor. Covid had a huge impact, shutting down many manufacturers in 2020. PACCAR and Navistar being just two examples of many. But these examples were out of precaution.
Removing lot’s of employees is easier than getting people back in. There were many who looked forward to getting back to work, but a contingent still have not returned. One can observe this trend in any city, where masses of “help wanted” signs everywhere.
Squeezing the amount of workers in factories and creating regulations makes returning to work difficult.
One part of the problem is the delivering of these vehicles across the country to get them out of lots. The usual strategic carriers have run low on their driver pool.
According to Mike Mulqueen, a partner at a transportation consulting firm, JBF, “the percentage of tenders going to the spot market for many shippers is up to 30 to 40 percent. Before the pandemic, it would have been less than 10 percent. JBF’s consulting practice is totally focused on freight transportation and TMS implementations.”
Vaccine mandates are a huge issue for many americans for a plethora of reasons, including the right to self autonomy and personal health reasons. No matter the reason opposed to the vaccine, they are all opposed to mandating a vaccine.
In January of 2022, Canada banned U.S. and other foreign truckers from entering the country unless they are fully vaccinated. Canada will require non-vaccinated Canadian drivers to show a negative, Covid-19 test taken 72 hours prior to reaching the border before they are allowed entry. Those drivers will also have to quarantine for a 14-day period, which industry groups say will hurt fleets that are already short-staffed.
Freight trucks and vehicles in general are getting expensive and it’s due to several factors. Covid playing a huge role in minimizing work force, foreign plants not being able to create the material we need here, chip shortages, lack of drivers to transport vehicles and material, and natural gas production being choked due to covid and US reactions to Russia’s invasion.
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